ST. PETER — Two years ago, Emma McMahon decided she wanted to switch from gymnastics to skating.
She was nervous at first, of course, as she’d been a gymnast since her pre-K years. But now the Prairie Winds Middle School sixth grader is as confident on the ice as ever, said her mom, Darcey Nelson. She credits Southern Minnesota Skating Club with her daughter’s transformation.
“She thought she was late to start, but SMSC has been such a strong support system for her, helping her gain confidence on and off the ice,” Nelson said. “Everyone at SMSC was so kind and nonjudgmental about everything, providing a space she could feel safe and thrive in.”
The Skating Club will host its third annual ice show Sunday at the Lund Arena at Gustavus Adolphus College, with shows at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Forty-six skaters will participate.
This year’s theme is Unstoppable. Skating Club President Natalie Casper said it’s a fitting word to describe what the club’s skaters will put forth during the show.
“Our show incorporates skaters of all interests, including hockey and figure skaters,” she said. “Our show gives people a chance to see what the human spirit can do when it’s unstoppable.”
She expects as many as 1,000 attendees Sunday. The Skating Club is a newer nonprofit, having launched in fall of 2023. This is its third consecutive ice show.
Its mission is to support skaters of all interests and ages by providing unique opportunities so they can grow. Skaters in Sunday’s ice show will be from ages 4 to 50 years old.
When McMahon first started skating in January 2024, she could barely stand on the ice.
“Now she can do small jumps, spins, skate backwards, forward fast, slow, stopping different ways, moving beautifully,” Nelson said. “We couldn’t be more proud of what SMSC has done for our daughter — confidence, creativity and commitment to trying new things.
“The club is just purely a treasure to have in her youth and something that will carry with her throughout her life. It’s simply making her unstoppable on and off the ice.”
In her first ice show, she nervously participated in just one number, Nelson said, but this year is excited to participate in six numbers.
“We are so excited to continue our journey with SMSC and see where it brings our daughter,” she said.
Marissa Hill, mom of North Elementary third grader Isabella, said the ice show is an important event for her daughter.
“Being a part of the Unstoppable ice show means a lot to my daughter,” Hill said. “It represents her dedication, hard work and willingness to keep improving as a skater. The theme Unstoppable reflects her mindset of pushing through challenges, building confidence and not giving up. She’s excited to be a part of a team and contribute to bringing the show to life.”
Gabi Rolloff, one of the Skating Club’s 13 coaches, said the ice show will be “an unforgettable show full of talent that you won’t want to miss. All of the skaters have been working so hard and are so excited to showcase their talents.”
Lucy Tauer, a St. Peter High School junior, said she and her fellow skaters will be ready to improvise and tackle any challenging obstacle.
“It involves demonstrating your abilities through emotions, physical connection with the ice and your blades,” she said. “This kind of connection can inspire and influence others around you, reflecting focus and passion. Additionally, it conveys a strong sense of purpose on the ice, ultimately presenting yourself as an unstoppable figure, even when things aren’t perfect or going as planned. This demonstrates that our actions and abilities won’t be stopped.”
“When you put yourself in the right environment, anything is possible and you can be unstoppable,” Casper said. “That’s what our skaters are going to demonstrate this weekend.”
Sunday’s performances will cost $16 for ages 12 and up; $12 for youth ages 4 to 11; and children younger than age 4 are free.